How to Change your NAT Type through Your Router
Follow the instructions in this section if you have access to your router. You will need to have your IP address on hand as well as access to your router’s login credentials.
Your router’s login credentials will vary by manufacturer, but routerpasswords.com has a database covering the default for most modern routers.
Method 1: Use UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Identical configuration for all devices | Potential security risks |
| Simple and easy setup | |
| Automatic once enabled |
Universal Plug and Play is a type of autonomous port forwarding. It is the easiest way to change your NAT Type to Open on Xbox, PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC.
To enable UPnP, follow these steps:
- Type your IP address into your web browser’s address and press Enter. If you don’t know your IP address, use our ‘What Is My IP’ tool or find it on the back of your router. This will access your router settings.
- Fill in your login credentials. Unless you’ve changed these previously, your login is typically “admin” and your password is normally the same or left blank. This can vary by manufacturer, so check routerpasswords.com if you have difficulty logging in.
- Once you’ve logged into your router, find the UPnP settings. Depending on the manufacturer, this can usually be found under any variation of “Settings,” “Network Settings,” or “Advanced Settings.”
- Enable UPnP. Reset your router and your device to ensure that the change in settings is registered. Your NAT Type will no longer be strict.
How does UPnP work?
UPnP is a series of protocols that allow devices in the same network to discover and communicate with each other.
When enabled, your games consoles or PC will use UPnP to notify your router to open the required ports on your internet connection and forward them to your device. This allows a connection to be established between a device within your local network and your public-facing internet port.
In gaming terms, enabling UPnP means that the ports assigned to your gaming console or PC will automatically open upon request. This will give you an Open NAT Type on Xbox, PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC.
We’ve highlighted UPnP as the first solution you should try as it’s the easiest to setup. It does, however, carry some security risks. A device carrying malware inside your network could theoretically use UPnP to open a port for further exploitation by a third party. This is not common but is worth considering before enabling UPnP on your router.
Method 2: Use Port Forwarding
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Minimal security risk | Overly-technical setup |
| Can choose specific ports to open instead of the entire network | Configuration varies by manufacturer |
| Works on all devices | |
Your router contains ‘ports’ which function as virtual doors to the internet. NAT directs your internet traffic through these ports to its appropriate destination, whether it’s another device or website.
This is an automatic process, but problems can arise when NAT doesn’t open the right port for your connection.
Port forwarding is the process of manually assigning a port to a particular device which creates a direct connection.
This allows you to directly connect your games console to its required gaming network or launcher, thereby changing your NAT Type.
It also has the added benefit of improving your in-game latency, making port forwarding an essential feature for PUBG VPNs and gaming VPNs generally.
How to port forward your Xbox or PlayStation
- To access your router’s settings, type your IP address into your web browser’s address bar and press Enter. To find your IP address, use our IP checker tool or check the back of your router.
- Find your console’s IP. To do this on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, select Settings > Network > Network settings > Advanced settings > IP address . To do this on PlayStation 4 and 5, navigate to Settings > Network > View Connection Status .
- In your router’s settings, navigate to your router’s port forwarding menu (this will vary by manufacturer). This can be found under Security > Apps and Gaming > Port range Forwarding for Linksys routers, Advanced > Advanced setup > Port Forwarding for Netgear, and Advanced > Forwarding > Virtual Servers for TP-Link.
The Port Forwarding menu of a Linksys router
Here you’ll be asked to select one of three protocols (UDP, TCP, or both) and to fill in your start and end port number. Each entry will also require your console’s IP address.
- Enter the numbers in the tables below. Unless specified otherwise, repeat the same number for both the start and end port. If a port number is separated by a hyphen the first number represents the start port and the second number is the end port.
If it’s supported by your router, we recommend selecting ‘both’ in the protocol section as this reduces the amount of port forwarding inputs you have to make.
- After you’ve added the required ports, save your changes and reset your router and console.
- You will now have an ‘Open’ NAT Type on Xbox and ‘Type 2’ on PlayStation.
If you’re on Xbox, assign these ports:
| TCP | UDP | Both (Recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| 3074 | 88 | 3074 |
| 500 | ||
| 3074 | ||
| 3544 |
If you’re on PlayStation, assign these ports:
| TCP | UDP | Both (Recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 3074 | 1935 |
| 3478-3480 | 3478-3479 | 3074 |
| 3478-3480 |
How to port forward your Nintendo Switch
- The Nintendo support page recommends you manually set your own device IP. You’ll need your network IP address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway for this.
- If you’re using a windows device, go to Windows search bar and type cmd. Select Command Prompt, then type in ipcongifg/all and press Enter to view the required network information. If you’re using macOS go to System Preferences > Network. Select your active connection and then click Advanced. Locate the TCP/IP button and all the necessary information should appear.
- Once you have your network information go back to your Nintendo Switch. Navigate to System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings. Your Switch will now scan for an available network.
- Locate your network, then select Change Settings > IP Address Settings > Manual .
- Delete the pre-existing IP address by holding down the B button on your joycon or controller. Replace it with the IP address you found on your Windows or macOS device in Step 2.
The Nintendo support page specifies that you should add 20 to the last digit of your IP address. For example an address that reads192.0.2.1should be input as192.0.2.21 - Delete your Subnet Mask and Gateway by holding down the B button after selecting them. Input the network information you collected earlier. Unlike the IP address, you do not need to adjust any of the numbers.
- Select Save in the bottom right corner to register your changes.
- Log in to your router settings and navigate to the port forwarding tab
- Unusually, Nintendo suggests forwarding ports 1 through 65535. We strongly recommend that you do not do this, as doing so would expose your Switch to the entirety of the internet. Instead, we recommend forwarding ports 45000-65535.
- Input 45000 as the start port and 65535 as the end point on the UDP protocol and save your changes.
- Reset your router and console to register the changes. Your Switch will now have an Open to Moderate NAT Type (ranging from A to C).
Navigate to your Internet Settings
Make sure you input your new IP address correctly
How to port forward your PC or Mac
- Obtain your computer’s IP address. If you’re using Windows then type cmd into the Windows search bar and press Enter. Select Command Prompt, then type in ipconfig/all and press Enter to view the device IP.
If you’re using macOS, go to System Preferences > Network and click on your connection, then Advanced. Locate the TCP/IP button and click on it to view the device IP.
- Log in to your router settings page.
- Navigate to the port forwarding section.
- Unlike on the games consoles, there are no set ports on a PC that work for all games.
Typically, ports will vary depending on the game launcher used and can even differ on a game-by-game basis. - We recommend referring to portforward.com for your PC game’s specific ports.
- Each port forwarding rule will also require your PC’s IP address from Step 1.
- Input the appropriate ports and save your changes.
- Reset your router and PC to register your changes.
- You should now have an Open NAT Type.
Why We Don’t Recommend Using DMZ to Change Your NAT Type
You may see other NAT Type troubleshooting guides suggest putting your games console into a ‘DMZ’ to open your NAT Type. This is a reckless ‘solution’ which will expose your gaming device to the entire internet.
A DMZ refers to a ‘Demilitarized Zone Network’. This is a miniature network which acts as a middle-man between a local private network, such as your home router and devices, and a wider public network – like the internet.
DMZs are typically used by organizations that want customers to access their website but don’t want to expose their private network to the internet. The company website would be put into a DMZ allowing the customers to publicly access it, while ensuring the organization’s servers remain private.
Putting your PC or games console into a DMZ will provide you with an Open NAT as it will open all your ports.
However, it will keep all of your ports open 24/7, leaving you extremely vulnerable to malware attacks such as ransomware and botnets. Moreover, despite the separation from your local network, a device in a DMZ can still communicate with devices in your LAN and therefore infect them.
